When it comes to movie franchises, the High School Musical movie franchise still stands as being one of the most popular. Kids in the 2000s loved the films and still sing along to the songs to this very day. Disney Channel knew exactly what they were doing when they created a franchise of films with great actors, awesome songs, and adorable dance routines.

RELATED: 25 Stunning Pics Of Disney Starlets All Grown Up

The push and pull between the main characters wanting to pursue the art of theater against their other interests (sports and science) are relatable to teens in real life. Here is what the cast looks like today.

10 Zac Efron Played Troy Bolton

During his High School Musical days, Zac Efron played the role of Troy Bolton, a basketball star who also had an interest in theater. He found himself juggling basketball and theater while feeling conflicted about which extracurricular activity was more important to him.

Since High School Musical has come to an end, Zac Efron has starred in plenty of huge films including That Awkward Moment, The Greatest Showman, and Baywatch.

9 Vanessa Hudgens Played Gabriella Montez

Vanessa Hudgens played the role of Gabriella Montez, an intelligent and brilliant student scientist who also greatly enjoyed singing. She connected with the character Troy Bolton and the two ended up entering into an adorable high school relationship.

In the franchise, the relationship had a lot of ups and downs. In the end, they realize that they genuinely do want to be together. Interestingly enough, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens actually dated each other in real life for several years before calling it quits.

8 Corbin Bleu Played Chad Danforth

Corbin Bleu played Chad Danforth in High School Musical movie franchise. Chad done for us was a basketball player that was completely focused on his sport of choice.

At first, he was not understanding when it came to finding out that his friend was interested in the world of theater but eventually, he was able to come around and change his mind about things. Corbin Bleu is an incredibly handsome and talented actor and has worked on several projects since High School Musical.

7 Ashley Tisdale Played Sharpay Evans

Ashley Tisdale played the role of Sharpay Evans in the High School Musical movie franchise. Her role as a Sharpay was the role of the Disney franchise's villain. She was someone who a lot of people in the movies did not get along with very well because she wanted to manipulate and control every situation around herself in order for things to work in her favor.

RELATED: Disney Channel: 10 Recent Reunions That Will Warm Your Heart

In real life, Ashley Tisdale is nothing like the character she played in those High School Musical movies! She is genuinely a sweet person.

6 Lucas Grabeel Played Ryan Evans

Lucas Grabeel played the role of Ryan Evans in the High School Musical movie franchise. In the movies, he was known for being an incredible dancer who loved to come up with choreography for himself, his sister, and his friends.

In real life, Lucas Grabeel obviously has a great talent for dancing too because otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to keep up with such a dance-centered role in High School Musical.

5 Monique Coleman Played Taylor McKessie

Monique Coleman played the role of Taylor McKessie in the High School Musical movie franchise. Taylor McKessie was Gabriella Montez’s closest friend at their high school.

Throughout the course of the films, their friendship was never even slightly tested because they always supported each other and had each other’s backs. They both knew what their goals were and encouraged each other to follow their dreams and follow their hearts.

4 Olesya Rulin Played Kelsi Nielson

Olesya Rulin played Kelsey Nielsen in the High School Musical movie franchise. In the movies, the character she plays is a talented pianist who knows how to write beautiful melodies to go along with incredible lyrics.

She loves to give her songs away to Troy and Gabriella because she knows that they are the perfect duet to bring her songs to life. In the films, Sharpay and Ryan even try to sneak in and steal those songs because they are that good. In the end, Troy and Gabriella are the ones who prevail.

3 Kaycee Stroh Played Martha Cox

Kaycee Stroh played Martha Cox in the High School Musical franchise. She was a character who was known for being incredibly smart when it came to academics but secretly loved dancing to hip-hop music in her spare time.

RELATED: High School Musical: The Main Characters’ Real Life Ages & Relationship Statuses

At first, her friends were not understanding at all about her interest in the world of dance but eventually, they wrapped their minds around it and realized that they needed to accept her for who she was and what her interests were. Kaycee has had a few acting credits aside from High School Musical and is still actively acting to this day.

2 Chris Warren Played Zeke Baylor

Chris Warren is the handsome actor who played the role of Zeke Baylor. He was a basketball player on the same team as Troy Bolton and Chad Danforth. His secret was that he really liked to bake.

Just like Martha Cox, at first, his friends did not approve of his hidden talent but eventually, they changed their minds about it. Everyone should be able to express themselves and be honest about what their interests are. That was one of the biggest messages to come from the first HSM film.

1 Ryne Sanborn Played Jason Cross

Ryan Sanborn is the actor who played the role of Jason Cross in the High School Musical movie franchise. Although his character in the High School Musical movie franchise wasn’t all that big or important, he is still noteworthy.

He was one of the basketball players on the team with the characters of Troy Bolton and Chad Danforth. In real life, he is now a professional ice hockey player.

NEXT: The Cast Of High School Musical: Where Are They Now?

Next 10 Best Tom Hardy Movies To Watch While Waiting For Capone
About The Author